SE1650958A1

SE1650958A1 - Locking device for a roller blind

Info

Publication number: SE1650958A1
Application number: SE1650958A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Zhang Bo
Original assignee: Ikea Supply Ag
Priority date: 2016-07-01
Filing date: 2016-07-01
Publication date: 2018-01-02
Also published as: EP3478920A1; US20190316414A1; WO2018004436A1; SE540336C2; EP3478920A4; PL3478920T3; US10934775B2; EP3478920B1

Abstract

The invention refers to a Locking device (200) for a pre-tensioning arrangement of a roller blind (2) or a Venetian blind, comprising a sleeve (5) and a plug element (4) adapted to be inserted into the sleeve (5), a locking member (7) and a pin (6). The pin is adapted to be operated between a locking position and a releasing position. When set to the locking position the plug element (4) is prevented from being rotated in view of the sleeve (5). When set to the releasing position the plug element (4) is allowed to be rotated in view of the sleeve (5).

Description

LOCKING DEVICE FOR A ROLLER BLIND Technical fieldThe present invention concerns a Iocking device for a pre-tensioningarrangement of a roller blind or a venetian blind.

Technical backgroundRoller blinds are commonly powered by a spring which is tensioned as the roller blind is released. The thus accumulated tensioning is used later onto assist when the roller blind is to be raised. One example of a roller blindusing a spring to provide a pre-tension is known from DE19834777A1. Thespring is mounted around the tube with one end thereof fixed to the tube andthe other end indirectly fixed to a bracket used to suspend the roller blind to awall. As the blind is released the spring will be tensioned and as the blind israised the thus tensioned spring will assist the raising.lt is advantageous to use a certain pre-tensioning already whensuspending the roller blind to the window frame. This can in its easiest way bemade manually when suspending the roller blind. The roller blind can also bedelivered to the user with a certain pre-tensioning. ln the latter case such pre-tensioning must be maintained until suspension.One example to maintain a pre- tensioning is known from US 7 082 983 B2 in which pivotable ratchet is used.

Another example to maintain pre-tensioning is to provide the rollerblind with a head rail, also known as a top track which is fixedly attached toboth sides of the roller blind. The opposite ends of the head rail may beattached to or be provided with brackets that are used to suspend the rollerblind to a window frame. The head rail grasps the opposite ends of the tubeonto which the blind is to be wound. Such head rail does however make theroller blind more bulky and it is not possible for the user to cut the roller blindto a width that fits a specific window.

SummaryOne object of the present invention is to provide a Iocking mechanism that maintains a pre- tensioning of a spring of a roller blind which spring isused to assist raising of a roller blind. The Iocking mechanism should be easyto release when the roller blind is to be suspended to a window frame and it should also be as easy to set to a locked position in case the roller blindshould be unsuspended. Further, the locking mechanism should be easy touse without the need for any tooling.

These and other objects are solved by a locking device for a pre-tensioning arrangement of a roller blind or a venetian blind, comprising asleeve and a plug element adapted to be inserted into the sleeve, a lockingmember and a pin, wherein the sleeve on its inner circumferential surfacecomprises at least one recess; the plug element comprises a wall having alongitudinal and circumferential extension, and the wall defining a cavityadapted to receive the pin, and wherein the wall comprises a through-goingopening, the opening being adapted to receive the locking member; the pinalong its longitudinal extension comprises a locking portion and a releasingportion, and wherein the pin is movable inside and along the longitudinalextension of the cavity of the plug element between a locking position and areleasing position; in which locking position the locking portion of the pinlongitudinally coincides with the through-going opening of the wall, wherebythe locking member will engage the locking portion and be urged by thelocking portion radially outwardly into the recess of the sleeve therebypreventing the plug element from being rotated in view of the sleeve, and inwhich releasing position the releasing portion of the pin longitudinallycoincides with the through-going opening of the wall, whereby the lockingmember will engage the releasing portion of the pin and be allowed to moveradially inwardly out of the recess of the sleeve, thereby allowing the plugelement to be rotated in view of the sleeve.

The plug element may be seen as a stator whereas the sleeve and thetube may be seen as a rotor. Depending on the position of the pin in thecavity, the locking member will either allow the sleeve and tube to freelyrotate in view of the plug element or engage the plug element and the sleevein a locking manner. The latter is a default position as long as the roller blindis not suspended to a window frame. The locking device is adapted to beinserted into the open end of the tube onto which a blind is to be wound.Thereby all components of the locking device are fully protected from theambience preventing any foreign items to interfere the operation. Further thelocking device may be operated by an actuator engaging and thereby settingthe pin to its re-leasing position. Such actuator may be integrated in a bracketwhich is used to suspend the roller blind to a window frame. When the roller 3 blind is de-suspended the pin and hence the locking device is automaticallyset to its locking position.

The cavity as seen in the longitudinal direction of the wall maycomprise a first abutment and a second abutment, and wherein the pin isbiased towards the second abutment by a spring acting between the firstabutment and the pin, and wherein the second abutment comprises at leastone opening allowing the pin to be operated by an actuator to thereby bemoved from the locking position to the releasing position. The actuator maybe arranged in a bracket used to suspend the roller blind in a window frame.By the biased pin, the roller blind will automatically be set to a locking positionwhen the roller blind is de-suspended. Thereby a pre-tensioning of the rollerblind will be maintained.

The locking device may further comprise a pre-tensioning springhaving a first and a second end, the first end being connected to the plugelement and the second end being connected to the sleeve.

The plug element may extend through and past the sleeve, and the plug element may as seen in a position past the sleeve comprise a connector.

A first end of a pre-tensioning spring may be connected to the connector anda second end of the pre-tensioning spring may be connected to the sleeve.Thereby, when the pin of the locking device is set to the releasing position,the spring will be turned and tensioned as the tube and the sleeve is allowedto rotate in view of the plug element, i.e. when the blind is released.

The plug element may as seen along its longitudinal extension beconnected to a shaft, wherein the plug element and the shaft areinterconnected by a driver. By connecting the plug element to a shaft the plugelement may be given a longitudinal extension that allows it to extend pastthe sleeve and allow a pre-tensioning spring to extend between the sleeveand the plug element. Such spring may depending on the length of the shaftbe allowed to have a longer operating length.

The locking member may be a ball or a peg. The locking element isarranged to be received in a pocket defined between the inner circumferentialsurface of the sleeve, the through-going-opening in the wall of the projectionportion of the plug element and the pin. More precisely, the part of the pinfacing the pocket can be either the locking portion or the releasing portiondepending on if the actuator operates the pin or not.

A plurality of recesses may be arranged side by side in thecircumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of the sleeve.

Although it would be sufficient with only one recess, a plurality of recesses willimprove the locking effect since the angular displacement of the tube beforeproviding a locking engagement between the locking member and a recesswill be reduced.

The sleeve may along its outer circumferential surface comprise adriver adapted to engage a tube supporting the blind of a roller blind or avenetian blind. The driver ensures that the sleeve will always rotate togetherwith the tube as one unitary body.

The side walls of the at least one recess may as seen in the radialdirection of the sleeve be arc shaped or V-shaped forming an obtuse angle.Thereby, the locking member will easily move into and out of engagementwith the recess no matter direction of the rotation of the tube.

According to another aspect, the invention refers to a roller blind or avenetian blind comprising a tube supporting a blind, wherein the tubecomprises a locking device according to any of the features given above.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be obviousto a person skilled in the art reading the detailed description given belowdescribing different embodiments.

Brief description of the drawinqs The invention will be described in detail with reference to the schematicdrawings.

Fig. 1 discloses a window with a roller blind.

Fig. 2 discloses an exploded view of the locking device with itscomponents.

Figs. 3a and 3b disclose a roller blind provided with the inventivelocking device before and after being mounted to a bracket.

Figs. 4a and 4b disclose a longitudinal cross section of the lockingdevice to illustrate the operation.

Detailed descriptionNow turning to Figs. 1 a window with a roller blind 1 is schematically disclosed. The roller blind 1 is mounted at its two opposing free edges alongthe upper border of the window frame 100 by means of brackets 2. The rollerblind 1 is operated by a pull cord actuator 3. By pulling the pull cord actuator 3the blind is either released or raised. This mechanism is well known in the artand is not further discussed. The invention will throughout the description and 5 the illustrations refer to a roller blind. The very same principle is equallyapplicable to a venetian blind. The essential difference is that instead ofwinding a blind onto the tube, the cords of the venetian blind are wound ontothe tube.

Now turning to Fig. 2 an exploded view of a pre-tensioningarrangement of a roller blind or a venetian blind is disclosed. All parts will bediscussed in detail below. Starting from the left, the arrangement discloses abracket 2, a locking device 200 comprising a plug element 4, a sleeve 5, a pin6, a locking member 7, a biasing spring 8, a pre-tensioning spring 9, a shaft10 forming part of the plug element 4 and a connector plug 11. The lockingdevice 200 is arranged to be mounted by insertion into a tube 12 supporting ablind 13.

The bracket 2 is used to support the roller blind 1 when mounting thesame to a window frame. Brackets 2 are arranged at the opposing ends of theroller blind 1. The bracket 2 is in its simplest form formed by an L-shapedmember having a first flange 14a and a second ﬂange 14b. The first flange14a is adapted to be mounted to the window frame by e.g. screws (notdisclosed). The second flange 14b is provided with a projecting actuator 15adapted to operate the locking device 200.

The tube 12 is well known in the art. ln the disclosed embodiment it isformed by an extruded tube having a circular cross section. The inner wall 16of the tube 12 is provided with at least one recess 17 forming part of a driver.ln the disclosed embodiment a plurality of recesses 17 are provided, eachrecess having an extension in parallel with the longitudinal center axis L of thetube and hence the rotational axis of the roller blind 1. The tube 12 may beprovided by extrusion and cut to desired length depending on the width of thewindow frame 100.

The blind 13 is wound onto the outer surface of the tube 13. The blind13 may be any type of material suitable for winding, such as textile, plastic,metal film or paper.

Now turning to Figs. 4a and 4b the design of the plug element 4 will bedescnbed.

The plug element 4 comprises a flange portion 18 having a radialextension and a projection portion 19 having a longitudinal extension. Theflange portion 18 has in its radial surface an opening 20 adapted to allowinsertion of the actuator 15 of the bracket 2. ln the disclosed embodiment, also seen in e.g. Fig. 3a and 3b, the opening 20 is formed as a cross. Othergeometries are possible.

The flange portion 18 preferably has a diameter exceeding thediameter of the s|eeve 5 and the tube 12 to form an end closure of the tube12 when mounted thereto.

The projection portion 19 has a |ongitudina| wall 21 adapted to beinserted into the s|eeve 5 and extend coaxially therewith. The wall 21 definesa |ongitudina| cavity 22. The cavity 22 is in the |ongitudina| direction de|imitedby a first abutment 23 and a second abutment 24. The second abutment 24 isprovided by the flange portion 18 and hence the opening 20 in the flangeportion 18 sets the cavity 22 in communication with the ambience via saidopening 20.

The pin 6 is received in the cavity 22 and extends coaxially with the|ongitudina| extension of the plug element 4. The pin 6 is biased towards thesecond abutment by a spring 25 acting between the first abutment 23 and thepin 6. When the actuator 15 is inserted into the opening 20, the pin 6 ismoved towards the first abutment 23 and is thereby moved from a lockingposition (see Fig. 4a) to a releasing position (see Fig. 4b).

The pin 6 comprises along its |ongitudina| extension a locking portion26 and a releasing portion 27. The locking portion 26 is formed by a portionhaving a diameter D and the releasing portion 27 is formed by a portionhaving a diameter d, where the diameter D of the locking portion 26 exceedsthe diameter d of the releasing portion 27. ln the disclosed embodiment the locking portion merges into thereleasing portion by a chamfering 28 to be discussed below.

The wall 21 of the projection portion 19 comprises a through-goingopening 29 extending in the radial direction. The through-going opening 29 isadapted to receive the locking member 7 to be discussed below.

The plug element 4 is inserted into the s|eeve 5. When the plugelement 4 is fully inserted into the s|eeve 5, the plug element 4 abuts ashoulder 34 arranged inside the s|eeve 5.

The s|eeve 5 has a flange portion 30 and a projection portion 31. Theflange portion 30 has a diameter that exceeds the diameter of the tube 12.When the s|eeve 5 is inserted into the tube 12 the flange portion 30 acts as astopper preventing the s|eeve 5 from being fully inserted into the tube 5. Theouter circumferential surface of the s|eeve 5 is provided with at least one|ongitudina| projection 32 adapted to engage the corresponding at least one recess 17 of the tube 12, thereby forming a driving engagement. Thus, whenthe sleeve 5 is inserted into the tube 12 the sleeve 5 will rotate together withthe tube 12.

The sleeve 5 comprises on its inner circumferential surface at least onerecess 33. ln the disclosed embodiment a plurality of recesses 33 arearranged side by side in the circumferential direction. The recesses 33 doeach have an arc shaped cross section as seen in the radia| direction of thesleeve. Thereby, the locking member 7 will easily move into and out ofengagement with the recess 33 no matter direction of the rotation of the tube12. Other cross sections are possible, such as a V-shape. ln case of a V-shape it is preferred that the V has an obtuse angle.

The at least one recess 33 is positioned to radially overlap the lockingportion 26 of the pin 6 in a position when the locking device is in-activated.

A pocket 35 is defined between the inner circumferential surface of thesleeve 5, the through-going-opening 29 in the wall 21 of the projection portion19 of the plug element 4 and the pin 6. More precisely, the part of the pin 6facing the pocket 35 can either be the locking portion 26 or the releasingportion 27 depending on if the actuator 15 acts on the pin 6 or not. The pocket35 contains the locking member 7. ln the disclosed embodiment the lockingmember 7 is a ball. lt goes without saying that the same principle is applicablealso with the locking member 7 having other geometries such as a peg.

As is best seen in Fig. 2, the locking device 200 further comprises thepre-tensioning spring 9 allowing a pre-tensioning of the tube 12. The pre-tensioning spring 9 has a first and a second end, the first end 36a beingconnected to the plug element 4 and the second end 36b being connected tothe sleeve 5. ln the disclosed embodiment the projection portion 19 of the plugelement 4 comprises in its end facing away from the flange portion 18 a driver37. The driver 37 engages a first end 38 of the shaft 10 which extends alignedwith the longitudinal extension of the projection portion 19. By the driver 37,the shaft 10 will rotate together with the plug element 4. The opposite end ofthe shaft 10 comprises a connector 39 adapted to engage the first end 36a ofthe spring 9. The connector 39 interacts with the connector plug 11. Thesecond end 36b of the pre-tensioning spring 9 is adapted to engage thesleeve 5 which in its outer surface is provided with a connector 40. ln thedisclosed embodiment the connector 40 on the sleeve 5 is formed as threadsonto which the second end 36b of the pre-tensioning spring 9 is threaded.

The degree pre-tensioning of the spring 9 can be set in two ways.Firstly, as a pure design matter the spring 9 may be selected to have adetermined spring constant. Secondiy, by threading the spring 9 to theconnector 39 of the sleeve, the active length of the spring 9 may be adjusted. ln the following the operation of the locking device 200 will bediscussed with reference to Figs. 4a and 4b.

Starting with Fig. 4a the locking device 200 is shown when set to itslocking position. This is can be seen as an in-activated condition which theinventive locking device automatically takes when not suspended. ln thiscondition the tube 12 is prevented from rotation in view of the plug element 4. ln the locking position the pin 6 is biased by the spring 8 towards thesecond abutment 24. Thereby the locking portion 26 of the pin 6 defines apart of the pocket 35. The locking member 7 is pressed by the locking portion26 of the pin 6 to engage the recess 33 of the sleeve 5. Thereby the plugelement 4 will rotate together with the sleeve 5 and the tube 12. Also, in thiscondition the pre-tensioning spring 9 will remain its pre-tensioning. ln Fig. 4b the locking device 200 is set to a releasing position bysuspending the roller blind in a bracket 2. The actuator 15 engages the pin 6and forces it to be moved inside the cavity 22 towards the first abutment 23.ln this position the releasing portion 27 of the pin 6 defines a part of thepocket 35. Due to the smaller diameter d of the releasing portion 27, thelocking member 7 is allowed to release its locking engagement with therecess 33 of the sleeve 5. Thereby the sleeve 5 and the tube 12 will beallowed to rotate together in view of the plug element 4. Hence, the blind 13may be freely released or raised. When rotating the sleeve 5 together with thetube 12 in view of the plug element 4 the pre-tensioning spring 9 will be eitheradditionally tensioned or partially released depending on if the blind isreleased or raised. lf the roller blind should be de-suspended, the pin 6 will automatically,due to the biasing-spring 8, return to its locking position. During this returnstroke of the pin 6, the locking member 7 will be lifted by the chamfering 28 tolockingly engage the nearest recess 33 of the sleeve 5. The chamfering 28also serves the purpose that it prevents the pin 6 from falling out of the cavity22 by engaging the plug element 4. lt is appreciated that the embodiments of the invention as disclosedabove may be altered in different ways within the scope of the appendedclaims. 5 9 By way of example, it is to be understood that the Iocking device 200can be arranged on either end of the roller blind 1.

The pin 6 has been disclosed with a circular cross section. lt is to beunderstood that other cross sections with remained function are applicable.

The tube 12 may have other cross sections than circular with remainedfunction.

Claims

1. Locking device (200) for a pre-tensioning arrangement of a rollerblind (2) or a venetian blind, comprising a sleeve (5) and a plug element (4)adapted to be inserted into the sleeve (5), a locking member (7) and a pin (6),wherein the sleeve (5) on its inner circumferential surface comprises at leastone recess (33); the plug element (4) comprises a wall (21) having a longitudinal andcircumferential extension, and the wall (21) defining a cavity (22) adapted toreceive the pin (6), and wherein the wall (21) comprises a through-goingopening (29), the opening being adapted to receive the locking member (7); the pin (6) along its longitudinal extension comprises a locking portion(26) and a releasing portion (27), and wherein the pin (6) is movable insideand along the longitudinal extension of the cavity (22) of the plug element (4)between a locking position and a releasing position; in which locking position the locking portion (26) of the pin (6)longitudinally coincides with the through-going opening (29) of the wall (21 ),whereby the locking member (7) will engage the locking portion (26) and beurged by the locking portion (26) radially outwardly into the recess (33) of thesleeve (5) thereby preventing the plug element (4) from being rotated in viewof the sleeve (5), and in which releasing position the releasing portion of the pin (6)longitudinally coincides with the through-going opening (29) of the wall (21),whereby the locking member (7) will engage the releasing portion (27) of thepin (6) and be allowed to move radially inwardly out of the recess (33) of thesleeve (5), thereby allowing the plug element (4) to be rotated in view of thesleeve (5).

2. Locking device according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (22) asseen in the longitudinal direction of the wall (21) comprises a first abutment(23) and a second abutment (24), and wherein the pin (6) is biased towardsthe second abutment (24) by a spring (8) acting between the first abutment(23) and the pin (6), and wherein the second abutment (24) comprises atleast one opening (20) allowing the pin (6) to be operated by an actuator (15)to thereby be moved from the locking position to the releasing position. 11

3. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the Iockingdevice (200) further comprises a pre-tensioning spring (9) having a first and asecond end (36a, 36b), the first end (36a) being connected to the plugelement (4) and the second end (36b) being connected to the s|eeve (5).

4. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plug element (4) extends through and past the s|eeve (5), and wherein theplug element (4) as seen in a position past the s|eeve (5) comprises aconnector (38), and wherein the Iocking device (200) further comprises a pre-tensioning spring (9) having a first and a second end (36a, 36b), the first end(36a) being connected to the connector (38) and the second end (36b) beingconnected to the s|eeve (4).

5. Locking device according to claim 3, wherein the plugelement (4) as seen along its longitudinal extension is connected to a shaft(10), wherein the plug element (4) and the shaft (10) are interconnected by adriver (37).

6. Locking device according to any of the preceding claims, whereinthe Iocking member (7) is a ball or a peg.

7. Locking device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein aplurality of recesses (33) are arranged side by side in the circumferentialdirection on the inner circumferential surface of the s|eeve (5).

8. Locking device according to any of the preceding claims, whereinthe s|eeve (5) along its outer circumferential surface comprises a driveradapted to engage a tube (12) supporting the blind (13) of a roller blind or avenetian blind.

9. Locking device according to any of the preceding claims, whereinthe at least one recess (33) of the s|eeve (5) has an arc shaped or V-shapedcross section as seen in the radial direction of the s|eeve.

10.A roller blind or a venetian blind comprising a tube supporting ablind, wherein the tube (12) comprises a Iocking device (200) according toany of claims 1-9.